The Wisconsin Badgers have had nothing but outstanding news regarding their coaching staff over the last week. In a stunning move, the Wisconsin Badgers finalized a deal to hire Luke Fickell as their next head coach. Many thought interim head coach Jim Leonhard would become the next Wisconsin head coach but this is not the case. Instead, the Badgers decided to make a big splash hire and go with Fickell. After that hire, many thought that Wisconsin would lose their interim head coach/defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. As it turns out, that’s not the case.
Jim Leonhard and Luke Fickell Will Coach Together, With Help?
According to multiple reports, Leonhard made his decision Saturday. It’s an important time for him to make the decision, as recruits and possible transfers to and from Madison hang in the balance. Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Leonhard will stay with the Badgers program. However, those two aren’t the only notable coaches who could join Wisconsin’s staff. Fickell’s former defensive coordinator in Cincinnati could join the cause:
It is unclear whether Mike Tressel, who was Fickell’s defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Cincinnati, will be a co-coordinator with Leonhard. Tressel’s hire hasn’t been announced, but he was on the road recruiting for UW on Friday.
Either way, major reinforcements are on the way in Madison. So what does that do for Wisconsin’s expectations going forward? It can be summed up in one Tweet:
https://t.co/gw2uuSp6Dc pic.twitter.com/xfCPiuoPry
— Badger Barstool (@badgerbarstool) December 3, 2022
These types of coaching additions may take a year to gel, but once they do Wisconsin should be squarely in the college football playoff discussion. The first area that needs to improve. Graham Mertz may have played his last snap for Wisconsin. I don’t think many Badgers fans would be upset If that were the case.
Myles Burkett is a former 3-star recruit who was on the team this year but obviously didn’t play. Cole LaCrue is a 3-star prospect that has committed to Wisconsin. There is one thing that both of these players have in common. They are dual-threat QBs. In his time at Cincinnati, Fickell preferred to coach dual-threat QBs and coached them well. This could make the Wisconsin QB room very dangerous. Fickell has had success over the years in developing quarterbacks.
Wisconsin’s Defense Under Jim Leonhard Has Been Spectacular
Through the years Wisconsin has had outstanding success on defense with Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator.
- 2021 – 1st in total defense (5th in passing yards per game, 1st in rushing, 4th in PPG allowed) – 2nd nationally in yards per play (4.17).
- 2020 – 5th in total defense (31st in passing yards, 5th in rushing, 9th in PPG allowed)
- 2019 – 8th in total defense (16th passing yards, 8th in rushing, 10th in PPG allowed)
- 2018 – 41st in total defense (38th in passing yards, 56th in rushing, 43rd in PPG allowed)
- 2017 – 1st in total defense (4th in passing yards, 2nd in rushing, 3rd in PPG allowed)
Wisconsin has the pedigree to be a national powerhouse for years to come. These coaching changes have been near-perfect for the Badgers’ program.
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